In a field-trapping experiment with plant volatiles, we observed notably high attraction of green lacewing (Chrysotropia ciliata) males to the compound p-anisaldehyde. Based on this finding, we initiated the present study to elucidate this phenomenon and to investigate the chemical ecology of C. ciliata. Scanning electron microscopy revealed elliptical glands abundantly distributed on the 2nd to 6th abdominal sternites of C. ciliata males, whereas females of the species completely lacked such glands. No p-anisaldehyde was found in extractions of body parts of C. ciliata. Methyl p-anisate and p-methoxybenzoic acid were identified exclusively in the extract from abdominal segments 2–8 of males. Field-trapping experiments revealed no attraction of C. ciliata to either methyl p-anisate or p-methoxybenzoic acid. In contrast, males showed marked attraction to p-anisaldehyde in the field and antennae showed strong responses to this compound. Headspace collections in the field from living insects in their natural environment and during their main daily activity period indicated that p-anisaldehyde was emitted exclusively by C. ciliata males. Our overall results suggest that p-anisaldehyde might serve as a male-produced pheromone that attracts conspecific C. ciliata males. Here, we discuss hypotheses regarding possible mechanisms involved in regulation of p-anisaldehyde production, including involvement of the compounds methyl p-anisate and p-methoxybenzoic acid, and the potential ecological function of p-anisaldehyde in C. ciliata.

中文翻译：

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纤毛象ry（Ceurstropia ciliata，Neuroptera，Chrysopidae）雄性对P-茴香醛（具有推测的信息素功能的化合物）的吸引力。

在使用植物挥发物的田间诱捕实验中，我们观察到绿色草Ch（Chrysotropia ciliata）雄性对化合物对茴香醛具有很高的吸引力。基于此发现，我们启动了本研究以阐明该现象并调查纤毛衣藻的化学生态。扫描电子显微镜显示椭圆形腺在纤毛纤毛虫的第2至第6腹腹上分布丰富，而该物种的雌性完全缺乏这种腺体。在纤毛虫的身体部位提取物中未发现对茴香醛。对茴香酸甲酯和对甲氧基苯甲酸甲酯仅在男性腹部2-8段的提取物中鉴定出。田间诱捕实验表明纤毛虫对对茴香酸甲酯或对甲氧基苯甲酸都没有吸引力。相反，雄性在野外对对茴香醛表现出明显的吸引力，触角对这种化合物表现出强烈的反应。从自然环境中，并在其主要的日常活动期间生存虫领域的顶空集表示，对甲氧基苯甲醛是由专门发出C.椿男性。我们的总体结果表明，对茴香醛可能是雄性产生的信息素，可吸引同种纤毛虫。男性。在这里，我们讨论关于参与对茴香醛生产的调节，包括所述化合物的对甲基茴香酸乙酯的参与和对甲氧基苯甲酸，和对-茴香醛的潜在的生态功能可能的机制假说C.椿。